Automatic fuel dispensing nozzle

ABSTRACT

An automatic dispensing nozzle for filling a vehicle fuel tank having a control valve automatically responsive to both the rise of fluid about the outlet spout of the nozzle and also to abnormal increase in pressure within the fuel tank, to release a lockout mechanism which causes the valve to close, and involves a laterally movable locking member which is shifted laterally to release said lockout mechanism in response to the aforesaid conditions.

United States Patent 1 Mayer AUTOMATIC FUEL DISPENSING NOZZLE Edward A. Mayer, Newburgh, NY.

Texaco Inc., New York, NY.

Dec. 2, 1971 Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl 141/209, 141/225, 251/14 Int. Cl..... 867d 5/04, B67d 5/377, Fl6k 31/44 Field of Search 141/206, 209, 225,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1968 Sutcliffe 141/392 3/1971 Hansel 141/392 X 6/1971 Daniels 141/128 [4 Nov. 13, 1973 3,018,136 l/l962 Williams 251/14 X 3,253,611 5/1966 Cummins.. 3,366,139 1/1968 Shaw 251/14 X Primary ExaminerWayne A. Morse, .lr. Attorney-Thomas H. Whaley et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An automatic dispensing nozzle for filling a vehicle 4 Claims, .7 Drawing Figures Patented Nov. 13, 1973 3,771,577

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F l G Patented Nov. 13, 1973 3,771,577

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 13, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 RW w mm w AUTOMATIC FUEL DISPENSING NOZZLE The present invention relates to an automatic fuel dispensing nozzle, and particularly to a nozzle which is automatic to the extent of not only assuring proper control of the filling of the tank but is also responsive to excessive internal pressures within the vehicle fuel tank to effect emergency cut-off.

It has been conventional to provide fuel dispensing nozzles of the type customarily used in the ordinary fuel dispensing stations, with automatic cut-offs which are responsive to a surge of fuel about the spout of the nozzle as it rises in the fill pipe of the fuel tank of a vehicle, to close the main valve of the nozzle and terminate the fuel supply.

The present invention contemplates and relates to an automatic dispensing nozzle of this general classification, which is also responsive to an untoward increase in pressure within the fuel tank of a vehicle to effect the same result, namely the termination of fuel flow.

It is dictated by the prospect of ultimately conducting tank filling operations while the tank system is sealed from the outside atmosphere. Thus, if the spout of the nozzle makes a tight or sealing engagement with the inlet pipe of the fuel tank, some means will be neces sary for the release of the vapors within the tank as they are displaced by the incoming liquid fuel. This, in turn, means that these vapors will have to be vented, either to some receiving point on the vehicle or on the dispensing unit. In either case it will be apparent that an uncontemplated stoppage or blockage of the venting system as might invariably arise, could impose a detrimentally high pressure within.

The main objective of the present invention is to avoid such overpressure by a dispensing nozzle which is capable of terminating the flow of fuel into the tank instantly when the pressure within the tank reaches or exceeds a certain predetermined value. We have developed, as indicated by my copending applications U.S. Ser. Nos. and (185,998 and 184,998) other means for accomplishing this function, which are applicable to certain types of dispensing nozzles.

The present invention accomplishes this effect best in connection with a specific type of fuel cut-off device of the type illustrated rather generally in U.S. Pat. No. 3,196,908.

In such systems, as is known, the main poppet valve which controls the fuel flow thru the nozzle is actuated by a lever which impinges the valve stem and which is fulcrumed about a so-called lockout plunger, ordinarily fixedly locked in operative position but subjected to an instantaneous release in response to a suitable signal created by the rise of fuel about the spout of the nozzle.

The specific class to which the present device relates and as is shown by the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,196,908, involves a lockout plunger which is laterally notched to receive a locking carriage carrying one or more anti-friction locking pins or rollers which engage in the notch to lock the plunger in fixed axial position. The carriage with its anti-friction pins or rollers is connected to a pressure-responsive diaphragm which can instantaneously release them from the notch in response to a vacuum signal.

This arrangement permits the locking mechanism, including the diaphragm, to make a compact location on one lateral side of the nozzle.

The present invention involves secondary control of the lockout rollers or pins in response to another diaphragm which responds to some predetermined overpressure in the vehicle tank, in such a manner as to similarly actuate the lockout mechanism. The two controls operate the carriage thru a lost motion control such that there is no mutual interference.

In order to illustrate the present invention in more specific detail, reference is made to the figures of the present invention wherein one example of a nozzle constructed in accordance with the present invention is particularly shown for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the nozzle with portions broken away to show the internal structure.

FIGS. 2, 4 & 5 are specific detailed sectional views taken on the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 but showing the position of the parts at various significant stages in the operation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG.6 is a view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional view similar to the central portion of FIG. 1 but with parts broken away to show the relative position of the parts at the time of closure of the main valve.

Referring to FIG. I, a nozzle largely of conventional construction, such as the one mentioned previously and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,196,908, has been modified to respond to the pressure within the fuel tank of a vehicle which receives the spout of the nozzle.

Thus the inlet tube or pipe 12 of the tank, not shown, is provided with a threaded upper extremity which receives a coupling 14, engaging sealing washers 16 which contact spout 10 in tight or sealing relationship.

In addition to the conventional vent or aperture 18 on spout 10, which communicates by internal conduit 20 with a venturi chamber 22 to set up the vacuum control signal, the nozzle is provided with a second vent 24, preferably on the upper side of the spout and in a somewhat higher location than at vent 18, but below the tight seal connection.

Vent 18 operates in conventional manner when blocked by a surge of rising fuel thereabout to create a vacuum signal at the venturi, whereas the vent 24, by means of conduit 25, transmits ambient pressure within the tank to a control means to be hereinafter defined.

The nozzle itself has a main conduit 26 which forms a handle, the flow thru which is controlled by poppet valve 28 urged downwardly by a helical spring 29, shown more clearly in FIG. 7, and opened by raising valve stem 30. The valve stem is actuated by lever 32, fulcrumed upon lockout plunger 34 and normally held in the position shown by latch 36 (FIG. 1).

When a surge of fluid .in the intake pipe of the tank l2 closes vent 18 the ensuing vacuum signal is transmitted via conduit 38 shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 to chamber 40 on the left lateral side of the nozzle, as viewed in these figures. This retracts diaphragm 42 to the left as shown in FIG. 4' against spring 46. The diaphragm carries with it forked member 48 which, as, shown in these figures and also FIG. 6, is provided with lateral the main casting 61 of the nozzle as shown in FIG. 4.

On the other hand the locking carriage normally seats within lateral notch 62 in the lockout plunger 35. Thus, the lockout plunger has an integral, somewhat expanded, upper portion 60 which rides in a mating channel in the nozzle casting 61 and is provided with the lateral notch 62 which snugly receives the locking carriage 54.

Now therefore, with the lockout plunger 35 urged into its normal locking position as shown in FIG. 2, by spring 64, the carriage 54 is urged snugly into the notch 62 by spring 66. In other words, carriage 54 enters mating recess 62 to lock the lockout plunger positively against axial movement in either direction.

When however, diaphragm 42 is urged to the left by the imposition of a suction or vacuum in chamber 40, the fork 48 retracts carriage 54 from the recess 62 by drawing pin 52 to the left, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus the locked plunger is instantaneously unlocked, and since the main valve spring, as is known, dominates the other springs, it drives the lockout plunger downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4, (and also in FIG. 7) violently closing the main valve 28.

With the flow out off, the vacuum source ceases operation and the parts are returned by their respective springs to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the main feature of the present invention, the opposite lateral side of the nozzle is provided with a more or less counterpart diaphragm 68 and chamber 70 which communicates via channel 72 and conduit 25 with the aforementioned vent 24. Chamber 70 is accordingly exposed at all times to pressure within the fuel tank.

Diaphragm 68 is connected to a second rigid forklike connector 72 which, in turn, is provided with slots 73 which, similarly to previous fork 48, slidably engages the extremities of pin 52 on lockout carriage 54.

Any malfunction which causes the internal pressure in the vehicle tank to rise above a predetermined value is thus transmitted to chamber 70 to actuate diaphragm 68 to the left against spring 77 as shown in FIG. 5. Thus the slotted fork 72 moves the pin 52 and the associated locking carriage 54 to the left and out of recess 62, thus sharply releasing the lockout plunger. Therefore, main valve 20 is likewise caused to close in precisely the same manner as the previous release of the lockout plunger.

In other words, either a vacuum signal occasioned by the rise of fluid about the nozzle or a superatmospheric pressure signal occasioned by an untoward pressure within the fuel tank will independently terminate flow.

It is to be noted in this connection that the lateral slots 50 of forked member 48 make a lost motion connection with the slots 73 of the forked member 72, in that they effect this independent action by independently engaging pin 52.

Also, slots 50 normally engage the pin 52 at their extremities most remote from the controlling diaphragm 42.

On the other hand, slots 73 of the forked control member 72 ordinarily engage pin 72 at the extremity closest to their controlling diaphragm 68. This follows from the fact that both diaphragms 42 and 68 operate to force the carriage to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. In so doing, however, diaphragm 42 and its associated fork 48 exerts a pulling action, while diaphragm 68 and its fork 72, in effect, push the carriage.

Hence it is to be noted that when fork 48 is actuated the pin 52 moves freely, without restriction in slot 73 of fork 72. Also, when the diaphragm 68 is actuated to drive the carriage to the left, pin 52 likewise is moved freely and without restriction thru slot 50 on the left hand control fork 48. Thus neither operation interferes with the other. e

The inner sides of the respective diaphragms are normally vented to atmosphere by openings 76.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing nozzle for introducing liquid fuel into a fuel tank, said nozzle including a control valve (28) operable to control liquid flow through said nozzle, a lock-out plunger (60) associated with said control valve (28), being spring (64) biased for axial movement to open said valve (28) and permit flow therethrough, a locking member (54) engaging a lateral recess (62) in said lock-out plunger (60), said locking member (54) being connected to a flexible diaphragm (42) subject to a vacuum signal whereby to retract said locking member (54) laterally from said recess (62) in response to a vacuum applied to said diaphragm (42) during the filling of a fuel tank, the the improvement which comprises;

a second pressure responsive diaphragm (68) connected with said locking member (54) by means adapted to actuate said locking member (54) in a lateral direction to retract said locking member (54) from said recess (62),

said second diaphragm (68) being subject to ambient pressure within the fuel tank to acuate said locking member (54) out of engagement with said lock-outplunger (60) whereby to permit closure of said valve (28) at such time as a pressure accumulates within the fuel tank.

2. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking member (54) includes a spring (66) biased carriage slideably mounted for movement in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said plunger (60), and means on said carriage adapted to engage said recess (62) to prohibit axial movement of said lock-out plunger.

3. In an apparatus as defined in claim 2 including guide means in said nozzle disposed adjacent to said carriage, being positioned to slideably guide the latter in said direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said plunger (60).

4. In an apparatus as defined in claim 2 including roller means (56) carried on said carriage, and moveable to contact walls of said recess (62) during movement of said carriage with respect to said plunger (60). 

1. In a dispensing nozzle for introducing liquid fuel into a fuel tank, said nozzle including a control valve (28) operable to control liquid flow through said nozzle, a lock-out plunger (60) associated with said control valve (28), being spriNg (64) biased for axial movement to open said valve (28) and permit flow therethrough, a locking member (54) engaging a lateral recess (62) in said lock-out plunger (60), said locking member (54) being connected to a flexible diaphragm (42) subject to a vacuum signal whereby to retract said locking member (54) laterally from said recess (62) in response to a vacuum applied to said diaphragm (42) during the filling of a fuel tank, the the improvement which comprises; a second pressure responsive diaphragm (68) connected with said locking member (54) by means adapted to actuate said locking member (54) in a lateral direction to retract said locking member (54) from said recess (62), said second diaphragm (68) being subject to ambient pressure within the fuel tank to acuate said locking member (54) out of engagement with said lock-out plunger (60) whereby to permit closure of said valve (28) at such time as a pressure accumulates within the fuel tank.
 2. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking member (54) includes a spring (66) biased carriage slideably mounted for movement in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said plunger (60), and means on said carriage adapted to engage said recess (62) to prohibit axial movement of said lock-out plunger.
 3. In an apparatus as defined in claim 2 including guide means in said nozzle disposed adjacent to said carriage, being positioned to slideably guide the latter in said direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said plunger (60).
 4. In an apparatus as defined in claim 2 including roller means (56) carried on said carriage, and moveable to contact walls of said recess (62) during movement of said carriage with respect to said plunger (60). 